Mindfulness for beginners

'Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand- and melting like a snowflake.' Francis Bacon Sr

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your awareness to the present moment, and just simply absorbing and observing without judgment, all that is.It is just a state of being and acceptance of the present moment. It is a form of meditation and gives you the ability to live a deeper, healthier more meaningful and fulfilled life. It is a tool that allows you to tap into your inner peace.

It uses Eastern philosophies which have been used for centuries but have only more recently been used more widely in the Western world. It has been studied clinically as a technique to treat depression and has been proven to be an effective technique.

It cultivates the present, which is the only moment we ever really have. The past has left us, the future has not arrived, so why spend much of our time living in that which has no purpose? Residing in the now, not just racing through all the routine tasks of daily life, but pausing just to absorb life as it is.

By integrating this practice routinely into our everyday lives, with time and repetition, its beneficial effects will become apparent. However, a strong commitment is necessary to take full advantage. To start with it will often feel uncomfortable and unnatural but with patience and practice, it will start to become effortless.

Why is mindfulness essential to daily living?

Mindfulness is an essential part of living in an overstimulated and chaotic world. We can often find our daily lives overwhelming. Many of us have lost our way and our sense of purpose. We simply do what we think we should be doing.

Our bodies and minds deeply crave stillness, and this is often the very thing we do not provide. We are so used to ignoring the signs and keeping up with the treadmill, that we lose touch with our inner self and our real needs. Sometimes it takes a physical or mental illness, or even burnout before we realise just how much we have neglected ourselves.

Our body, mind, and soul are not isolated components to be treated individually. Instead, they are interconnected and using integrated methods which nourish all three are much more healing.

If we take the time to listen to our body, we can discover a lot, which is the first step to putting things right, and recalibrating our lives towards happier and healthier living. It is all about slowing down, listening and paying attention. This is called self-awareness. We need to find our purpose, what we truly care about, beyond superficial reasons, as to why we should attend to our inner deeper values.

Life should not be a case of just going through the motions. It should be an opportunity to feel full of vitality, peaceful and content. To have the drive to do the things which make us thrive and feel alive. To be proactive instead of reactive to life’s situations. To leave behind the fatigue, the lack of enthusiasm, and living on autopilot. To feel fully refreshed and restored after a night’s sleep instead of struggling to get out of bed in the morning.

Article written by Dr Aleesha Dhillon
Disclaimer: This article is solely for information purposes. It is not to replace a consultation with a qualified health professional. It should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. The article is based on the opinions of the author who retains copyright. You are advised to make your own health decisions based on your research and alongside a qualified health professional. Please consult a doctor if you have any health concerns.

What is stress?


What exactly is stress? People use the term stress to describe a variety of different symptoms and circumstances. Stress is...

Read more

Life


Some days may not go so well, but don't liken what's gone wrong during that time with your opinion of...

Read more

Happiness


With so much to do and so little time, everyone seems to live a hurried life. Work commitments and chores...

Read more